Podcasts about east bay meditation center

Our guest argues that looking back on those who came before us can help us understand who we are and why we do the things we do. Plus, a very special request from Dan. Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. In this episode we talk about: How Spring came to write about Harriet Tubman's life Her work with plant medicine and the shamanic tradition The dream and the “conversations” Spring had with Tubman Why we are all so interested in ancestry How we can deepen our relationship with our ancestors Family Constellation Therapy as a modality for doing ancestry work Spring's own family history Why she is still processing the experience of writing her book about Harriet Tubman What she means by the “inner underground railroad” and how it is alive today And, how, in the inner underground railroad, freedom equates to nirvana  Content Warning: mentions of suicide This episode originally aired in February 2023, and we're re-airing it today for two reasons: first, because it's awesome; and second, because Spring needs help.  A few months ago, Spring was hit by a delivery truck while crossing the street in Atlanta. She suffered extensive injuries and has been largely unable to work since then. As a result, she's been experiencing some financial distress between her mounting medical bills and her inability to be fully employed.  We've teamed up with the meditation teachers Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman to start a GoFundMe page to help Spring raise a little bit of money. Jack, Trudy and Dan have all contributed. If you can make a contribution, please do. No amount is too small.  You can find the GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-spring-washams-healing-journey   Related Episodes: The Dharma of Harriet Tubman | Spring Washam Spring Washam, ‘What Was Creating All This Suffering?' Everything You Wanted To Know About Meditation Retreats But Were Afraid To Ask | Spring Washam (And Dan's Close Friend, Zev Borow)   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris.  

Mushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners and with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion's Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. Mushim was selected by Lion's Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six "Great Buddhist Teachers" in the January 2022 issue. Connect with Mushim at:Website:  www.mushimikeda.comFacebook:  www.facebook.com/mushim.ikedaBluesky:  mushimikedaX / Twitter:  @MushimCA1Instagram:  mushimikedaLinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/mushim-patricia-ikeda-5307279/

Secular & Buddhist teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda in convo with Rev. Liên on how mature practice can help us deal with the current conditions of our world.GUESTMushim Patricia Ikeda is an internationally-known secular mindfulness and Buddhist teacher working primarily with justice activists and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) meditation practitioners and with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. A core teacher at East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, she is an author whose writing has been published in Lion's Roar, Tricycle, Buddhadharma and various anthologies. Mushim was selected by Lion's Roar Buddhist media magazine as one of twenty-six "Great Buddhist Teachers" in the January 2022 issue. Connect with Mushim at:Website:  www.mushimikeda.comFacebook:  www.facebook.com/mushim.ikedaBluesky:  mushimikedaX / Twitter:  @MushimCA1Instagram:  mushimikedaLinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/mushim-patricia-ikeda-5307279/HOST:REV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that breaks through the wall of American white-centered convert Buddhism to welcome people of all backgrounds into a contemporary, engaged Buddhism. As an ordained Zen priest, licensed social worker, and longtime educator/teacher of Buddhism, Shutt represents new leadership at the nexus of spirituality and social justice, offering a special warm welcome to Asian Americans, all BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and those seeking a “home” in the midst of North American society's reckoning around racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia. Shutt is a founder of Access to Zen (2014). You can learn more about her work at AccessToZen.org. Her new book, Home is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path. See all her offerings at EVENTS

In times of rapid change, how do we stay grounded, heart-centered, and open to new possibilities? In this episode of Beyond Trauma, meditation teacher Spring Washam shares the deep practices needed for navigating uncertainty—not by over-processing in the mind but by dropping into the wisdom of the heart and body. We explore how to work with anger, why truth is sharper than fire, and how ancestral wisdom can guide us through upheaval. Spring reminds us that “the heart carries the joy and the sorrow of this life”, and that true meditation isn't an escape into the intellect but a full-bodied practice of presence. As she puts it, “First awaken, then guide, then serve and build.” Join us for a conversation about transformation, resilience, and the sacred call to step into deeper service as the world shifts around us. Spring Washam is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities; She is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader and author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation, and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. Spring is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. Spring's Website | Instagram -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your support is deeply appreciated! Find me, Lara, on my Website / Instagram You can support this podcast with any level of donation here. Order The Essential Guide to Trauma Sensitive Yoga: How to Create Safer Spaces for All Opening and Closing music: Other People's Photographs courtesy of Daniel Zaitchik. Follow Daniel on Spotify.

How large of a force is shame in shaping the behaviors we see in society and ourselves? In this talk, René Rivera gently but powerfully guides us through the terrain of shame, drawing from personal experience, restorative justice work, and Buddhist teachings. He names shame as one of the five primary human emotions and explores how it subtly drives fear, anger, and avoidance.René relates how shame shows up intensely in work with people who've experienced or caused sexual harm and how facing it consciously can lead to healing and growth. He also ties shame to cultural patterns of oppression, suggesting that unexamined shame fuels collective harm, such as the political targeting of marginalized communities.To help us recognize and transform our own shame, René shares several tools and frameworks:Shame vs. Guilt: Shame is “I am bad,” while guilt is “I did something bad”—guilt can motivate action, while shame tends to immobilize.Compass of Shame (Nathanson):Attack Self: Internal harshness or over-apologizing.Attack Other: Blaming or lashing out.Withdrawal: Avoiding situations that might evoke shame.Avoidance: Distraction or pretending nothing happened.Body Awareness: Shame often shows up in physical sensations like sinking or heat; returning to the body anchors awareness.Reflective Questions (inspired by Byron Katie):Is it true?Can you absolutely know it's true?How do you react when you believe it?Who would you be without it?Is this mine?“Shame Report” Practice: Sharing shame stories with trusted others to dissolve secrecy and regain perspective.René encourages us to remember that our shame responses often began as survival strategies. Bringing compassion, curiosity, and community to our experiences allows us to shift from painful self-concepts toward healing and freedom.______________René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence. ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

In his talk on dukkha (suffering), Sean Feit Oakes delves into the heart of Buddhist teachings, exploring how our habitual reactions to both pleasant and unpleasant experiences can entangle us in cycles of suffering. He emphasizes that dukkha isn't just about overt pain but also includes the subtle dissatisfaction that arises from our resistance to life's impermanence and unpredictability. By bringing mindful awareness to these patterns, Sean suggests we can begin to untangle them, fostering a deeper sense of ease and presence in our lives.​Sean outlines practical approaches to work with dukkha:​Mindful Observation: Recognize and observe our reactions to experiences without judgment, allowing us to see the underlying patterns of clinging and aversion.​Embodied Awareness: Engage in practices that connect us to bodily sensations, grounding us in the present moment and helping to dissolve the grip of suffering.​Compassionate Inquiry: Approach our experiences with kindness and curiosity, creating space for healing and transformation.​Through these methods, Sean encourages a compassionate and embodied path to understanding and alleviating dukkha, leading to greater freedom and well-being.______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Susun Weed answers 90 minutes of herbal health questions followed by a 30 minute interview with Spring Washam. Considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities; Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. Spring is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008.

In this episode of the Ram Dass Explorer's Club, Buddhist teacher Spring Washam delves into the real work that comes before and after a journey with plant medicine.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This conversation was recorded as part of the Ram Dass Explorer's club. To learn more and sign up to join a Ram Dass fellowship gathering near you, visit RamDass.org/Fellowship.In this episode, Spring Washam and Jackie Dobrinska explore:Medicine as the gateway, practice as the real workAwakening to the truth of interconnectednessMetta, the loving-kindness practice / four qualities of heart and mindThe liberation that can be found within communityMoving away from hyper-independence and giving more value to loveThinking about our ‘why' when it comes to using psychedelicsLearning how to love ourselves, each other, and this broken worldThe future of psychedelic legalization and the destruction of systemsComing back to meditation, devotion, and chantingA Q&A session with listeners on trauma, patterns, set & setting, and moreAbout Spring Washam:Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade.In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide.Spring currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide: springwasham.com and is cohost of her own podcast on Be Here Now Network, The Spirit Underground.About Jackie Dobrinska:Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass' Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass' Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an inter-spiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves. “The medicine is the gateway but the practice is the real work. Nothing is real until it's lived.” – Spring WashamSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this 2022 retreat session, Spring Washam and Sharon Salzberg take a deeper look at mindfulness, the foundation of the Buddhist tradition.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Sharon and Spring hold a discourse on:Working directly with our mindAn opening body scan meditation with SpringThe practice of Satipatthana and finding freedom through mindfulnessFinding the end of suffering by examining our own body internallyThe importance of posture in meditationViewing the present moment without distortionOur relationship to what is arisingToxic happiness and negation of the realBeing with what is actually happening moment to momentMetta as an open, connected, interested quality of the heartA closing metta meditation from SharonRecognizing the power of good that moves through usAbout Sharon Salzberg:Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness.Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond.Learn more about Sharon and order your copy of her new book at www.sharonsalzberg.comAbout Spring Washam:Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade.In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide.Spring currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide: springwasham.com and is cohost of her own podcast on Be Here Now Network, The Spirit Underground.“There is something really important about us being willing to be with what is true, not with what we want, but the real experience. We wake up, there's heartache, I didn't want heartache but there it is. Can I be real with that?” – Spring WashamSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Spring and Lama Rod have a conversation about:Choosing liberation versus comfort and stability Getting to the root of suffering and the root of who we are Moving deeper into our current predicaments instead of bypassing The intense labor of liberation and choosing freedom in an unfree worldTransforming suffering into wisdom and clarityPain as our guide and teacher Building communities that can hold the nuances of justice and freedomFinding a teacher with experience in all paths The tension between enlightenment and humanityBridging conventional reality with the ultimate“I'm not interested in your comfort, I'm interested in your freedom. Because if you're always trying to prioritize comfort in this work then you're going to be really disappointed. You won't grow.” – Lama Rod OwensAbout Lama Rod Owens:Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself. A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. From these intersections, he creates a platform that's very natural, engaging, and inclusive.About Spring Washam:Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade.In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What core Buddhist teachings are reflected in all other wisdom traditions? As stated in the Kālāma Sutta, known as the Buddha's "charter of free inquiry," Donald Rothberg encourages us not to believe anything simply because we are told to, but rather apply our own experience and discernment. He encourages us to embrace the very practical core teachings of Buddhism and consider how those resonate with other religious traditions. He explores the foundations of our teachings in familiar Buddhist language, framing them in terms of: EthicsThe heart practices (compassion, loving-kindness, joy, etc.)WisdomHe then looks at the essence of each and how they can be expressed very simply in ordinary, practical language that goes beyond Buddhism.WATCH the full talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ZLIg05F38 ______________Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, a guiding teacher for the Marin Sangha in San Rafael, California, and a regular teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, Southern Dharma Retreat Center, InsightLA, and New York Insight. He teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, lovingkindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism. He has practiced insight meditation since 1976, and has also received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith, and is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World, and the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue. ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

In this talk, Melvin Escobar looks at the loneliness and separation prevalent in our world. Especially for LGBTQI individuals, this has roots in both the individual level as well as the structural level, such as the way families may ask us to hide parts of ourselves in order to find acceptance. The societal hierarchies we encounter also contribute to a sense of separation. However, Buddhist teachings on our interconnectedness help us see that separation is a fiction. Melvin looks at ways we can counter this sense of separation, especially focusing on loving kindness for oneself and towards others. ______________Melvin Escobar is a Core Teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, licensed psychotherapist, and certified yoga instructor. Melvin has walked the path of service for much of his life, drawing on his experiences as a queer man of color born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.Having encountered the priceless wisdom embodied in Buddhism and Yoga, he continues daily to learn the revolutionary potential of body-centered contemplative practices for personal and social healing. You can read his latest articles in Lion's Roar Magazine including “Loving-Kindness: May All Beings Be Happy,” and visit his website melvinescobar.com for more information. Support the Show.______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

East Bay Meditation Center teacher Arisika Razak talks to associate editor Mihiri Tillakaratne about loving-kindness, intergenerational trauma, recognizing our shared humanity, and the vulnerability in “ugly crying.” Razak then leads a loving-kindness meditation practice for ourselves, those who have supported our journeys, and even the difficult people in our lives.

Can turning away from pleasurable experiences actually limit our practice?In this talk René Rivera shares that there are wholesome states that signal we are on the path to awakening. However the pleasurable states often get a "bad rap" in Buddhism as something to be avoided so as not to trigger craving.  René summarizes the importance of pleasure by quoting Betty Martin:"Pleasure is a powerful change agent. Pleasure helps you make friends with your body and that changes the sense of who you are in the world, and your sense of self worth, value and compassion. Many fears and inner conflicts resolve. That is why it is often said that pleasure heals."He also leads the sangha in an exercise to explore an everyday object with one's hands. The intent is to find the ways in which we may find nourishment by introducing the act of noticing. Focusing on pleasurable sensations is a good way to begin because that's where our mind naturally gravitates anyway. ______________ René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence. Support the Show.______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

This is the audio of a video of a summary of the events at May We Gather 2024: A National Buddhist Pilgrimage for Asian American Ancestors, Co-Coordinated by Funie Hsu, Chenxing Han, & Duncan Ryūken Williams.Here is a list of the voices, chants, & Dharma Messages you'll hear: (Time-stamps are from the actual YouTube VIDEO Summary):· 0:26- 0:56 O-Daiko drum roll led by Dr. Paula Arai (Institute of Buddhist Studies) and Kansho Bell ringing led by Rev. Harry Bridge (Buddhist Church of Oakland)· 0:57-2:30 Emcee introduction, Funie Hsu/Chhi and Chenxing Han· 2:31-2:57 Chanting of the Three Refuges by Ven. Phra Khru Manas Siriratanathammawithet, Ven. Phra Maha Saichon Santikaro, and Ven. Phra Khru Baidika Jungrak Khemacaro (Wat Mongkolratanaram)· 2:58- 3:33 Recitation of the Hyobyakumon (Pronouncement of Intention) by Rev. Duncan Ryūken Williams (Zenshuji Soto Mission)· 3:34-3:57 Dharma message by Arisika Razak of East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland· 3:58-4:12 Chenxing- Introduction of Offerings+Chanting+Recitation of Memorial Tablets· 4:13-5:07 Chanting of Heart Sutra, led by Ven. Dr. Longyun Shi (American Bodhi Sea Buddhist Association) and presentation of tablet for Yik Oi Huang by Sasanna Yee (Communities as One)· 5:08-5:36 Dharma message by Jee Suthamwanthanee (Bay Area Thai Sangha)· 5:37- 6:08 Dharma message by Rev. Liên Shutt (Access to Zen)· 6:09-6:35  Prayer for Caste Equity by Thenmozhi Soundararajan (Equality Labs)· 6:36-6:54 Chenxing-Introduction of Kintsugi Lotus Offering and Chant· 6:55-7:11 Offering of Kintsugi Lotus by Ven. Hyongjeon and Ven. Hyokeun (Borisa Zen Center), accompanied by chant in Praise of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, led by Ven. Thich Tinh Nghia (Thien Tam Buddhist Temple)· 7:12-7:38 Dharma message by Rev. Grace Song (Won Institute of Graduate Studies)· 7:39-8:30 Dharma message by sujatha baliga (Gyuto Foundation)· 8:31-9:15 Protection Chant, led by Ven. Khammai Sayakoummane (Wat Lao Saysettha of Santa Rosa)· 9:16-9:43 Chanting and Taiko drumming by Diablo Taiko· 9:44-9:53 Daoist conducted by Master E-Man and Sumo Liu· 9:54-10:21 Chenxing- Introducing Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and her reading of the city's 2021 apology· 10:22-10:55 Mayor Monica Wilson reading the city's apology· 10:56-11:10 Chenxing introducing flower offerings by the family of Angelo Quinto and Yik Oi Huang· 11:11-11:33 Daoist ceremony conducted by Master E-Man and Sumo Liu(Not able to be included in our practice as it didn't have voiced audio -- but will be in the MWG Summary video --  Khenpo Paljor Gyatso leading the draping of Tibetan blessing scarves, or khatas, at Antioch's town marker.) Link to website of May We Gather 2024: A National Buddhist Pilgrimage for Asian American Ancestors  HOSTREV. LIÊN SHUTT (she/they) is a recognized leader in the movement that breaks through the wall of American white-centered convert Buddhism to welcome people of all backgrounds into a contemporary, engaged Buddhism. As an ordained Zen priest, licensed social worker, and longtime educator/teacher of Buddhism, Shutt represents new leadership at the nexus of spirituality and social justice, offering a special warm welcome to Asian Americans, all BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and those seeking a “home” in the midst of North American society's reckoning around racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia. Shutt is a founder of Access to Zen (2014). You can learn more about her work at AccessToZen.org.

What is humanity's relationship to change?In this talk, Syra Smith shares her thoughts on impermanence, leading with this quote: "Change is the thread woven through the fabric of Human existence, a constant force shaping our journey. In transition, we navigate the spectrum of emotions, from the excitement of new beginnings to the discomfort of uncertainty. It is in these moments that growth unfurls, pushing us beyond familiar boundaries. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon we transform, shedding old layers to reveal the evolving tapestry of our identity.  The dance of change, though challenging, whispers the promise of resilience and the beauty of embracing the unknown."______________ Syra Smith is an artist, facilitator and Dharma Teacher interested in deep ecology and manifesting a culture where we can turn toward fearless abundance and generosity. Her grandmothers are Choctaw-Chickasaw and include those among the first freed black African women to own land in her country. Syra's studies and practices are deeply rooted in the heart and along the path toward awakening more fully to the truth of freedom in our lives.A lifelong meditator and SF Bay Area native, Syra began her personal meditation practice as a teen in 1988 and has been practicing in the Theravada Buddhist tradition since 2009. She graduated East Bay Meditation Center's Commit to Dharma program in 2011 and became a Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader in 2017. Syra teaches Insight Meditation and mindfulness throughout the SF Bay Area and beyond and proudly serves as Core Teacher with the San Francisco LGBT Sangha. Syra is honored to serve as Board President as well as on the Guiding Teachers Council with San Francisco Insight.  More information and her teaching calendar are available at https://projectroot.org/ Support the Show.______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Recorded at the 2024 GBF Spring Retreat at Vajrapani Institute, April 18, 2024A chanting session precedes the talk, which begins at 29:50A Primer for Entering RetreatThough much of our practice may be solitary, retreat can be a time to emphasize the richness of shared spiritual life. In addition to a collective, interwoven practice, retreats can also call us to go deeper by getting real with ourselves and our lives—especially as we age—by integrating parts of our experience we may have once left out.In this rich talk, Sean Feit Oakes introduces two classic Buddhist paths of practice:Samatha (calming/centering) – Settling the mind, working with energy, and cultivating samadhi (deep stillness and stability).Vipassana (insight/clarity) – Cultivating profound vision through investigation and curiosity.Working with Energies and HindrancesTo help us deepen in practice, Sean explores the Five Hindrances that obstruct samadhi (steadiness and joy in meditation):Sensual Desire – Wanting pleasurable contact through the senses.Ill Will – Pushing away what's unpleasant.Sloth and Torpor – Dullness, laziness, low energy.Restlessness and Worry – Nervous energy, mental spinning.Doubt – The inner voice that says, “Why bother?”Growing Into WisdomIn the second part of the talk, Sean reflects on how emotional and spiritual maturation—like growing out of youthful obsessions—mirrors the process of deepening into wisdom. With time and perspective, we don't just gain knowledge—we develop wisdom, the kind that helps us meet life's fluctuations with calm and clarity. Sean likens enlightenment to “absolute maturity,” and highlights how true elderhood is earned through long engagement with life's joys and losses.The Heart of the DharmaSean underscores how real spiritual maturity requires presence with suffering, not turning away. He honors the wisdom found in queer communities, where grief, loss, and resilience have shaped a unique kind of elderhood. He offers a gentle but strong call to become lights on the path for others—through:Steadiness of heart and mind,Clarity that comes from facing impermanence,Courage to stay with difficult emotions,Bright-hearted resilience that resists bitterness.He closes by reminding us that the invitation of the Dharma is not just insight, but transformation—a deep, grounded presence in the world that benefits not just ourselves, but all beings.______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Enjoy a full 5-day retreat experience with these recordings from GBF's Spring 2024 Retreat, held at Vajrapani Insititute. Includes dharma talks, chanting and guided meditations. ______________Sean Feit Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, Puerto Rican & English ancestry, living on unceded Pomo land in NorCal), teaches Buddhism and somatic practice focusing on the integration of meditation, trauma resolution, and social justice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and wrote his dissertation on extraordinary states in Buddhist meditation and experimental dance. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and locally. Learn more at https://SeanFeitOakes.com ______________ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit https://gaybuddhist.org/There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Am I a bad meditator if I don't go on a retreat? What do they entail? How do I stay silent for days on end? How do I get into one? What's the food like?Spring Washam is the author of two books, A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. She is also one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center and is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America.In this episode we talk about:Whether or not you're a bad meditator if you don't go on a retreatWhat the specifics of a retreat entailsHow you stay silent for days on endAnd how to actually get into a meditation retreatRelated Episodes:Click here to listen to the previous episodes in our tenth anniversary series. To order the revised tenth anniversary edition of 10% Happier: click here For tickets to Dan Harris: Celebrating 10 Years of 10% Happier at Symphony Space: click hereSign up for Dan's weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/spring-washam-zev-borowAdditional Resources:Download the Ten Percent Happier app today: https://10percenthappier.app.link/installSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we bring our practice into the difficult moments of relationships with others? Can we learn from these and approach them with curiosity and presence as an opportunity to grow? René Rivera looks at the ways our practice can help us become more aware of when our words or behaviors generate conflict. He shares his approach to mend these transgressions, including: Be present with ourselves. Pause and focus on the sensations and emotions we feel when we make a mistake, such as shame, anger, or frustration. Open to the other person. Turn with curiosity to understanding the other person, such as acknowledging what has been said and being open to feedback.Seek to repair the damage; make amends sooner rather than later. ______________ René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Sometimes it can be a relief to hear the recognition offered in the First Noble Truth: that suffering exists and everyone experiences it. In addition to this fact, the Buddha taught that suffering can be ended.All of his teachings on achieving this freedom from suffering fall under two wings: wisdom and compassion. In this talk, infused with dharma songs, Eve Decker highlights a few of the numerous 'feathers' that make up each of these wings, including:WISDOMMindfulness - the capacity to inhabit the present moment rather than identify with our thoughts. COMPASSIONLoving Kindness (or befriending)CompassionAppreciative JoyEquanimity______________ Eve Decker has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1991, and has taught groups, daylongs, and short retreats since 2006, particularly at Spirit Rock, the East Bay Meditation Center, and elsewhere in the Bay Area. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley and of Spirit Rock's Path of Engagement and Community Dharma Leader training program, and has been trained in the Hakomi approach to body-based psychotherapy. Eve is also a singer/songwriter who has combined the power of music and dharma practice. Her most recent CDs are “In: Chants of Mindfulness & Compassion,” and “Awakening Joy - The Music.” Find her at https://evedecker.com/ Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Feelings of grief, panic and helplessness can lead one to do unpredictable, irrational things. In this selection from Lion's Roar's online course, Medicine for Fear, dharma teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda of the East Bay Meditation Center talks about the art of “feeling all the feelings” without causing harm to yourself and others, and why the smallest act of kindness can be a powerful form of activism.  

Part 2 - GBF 2023 Fall RetreatMost spiritual traditions and religions speak about the value of compassion, but Buddhism seems to be the only one with specific practices for developing this quality and opening our hearts. In this talk, Donald Rothberg explores the challenges we face when opening our hearts. Once we do, how do we integrate this compassion with wisdom? What challenges do we face when we try this?  He also identifies how traditional gender roles can hinder opening our hearts and developing compassion. A rich Q&A dialogue follows. ______________ Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, and a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, loving-kindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism.He has practiced insight meditation since 1976 and received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith. He is the author of "The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World," and the co-editor of "Ken Wilber in Dialogue." Find him at https://donaldrothberg.com/  Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Part 3: GBF 2023 Fall Retreat.How do we embody in our lives the practices we learn and the qualities we develop on retreat? In this talk, Donald Rothberg examines how we can 'bring the retreat home' with us and make our practice real in everyday life. He suggests key methods for accomplishing this, including: Become grounded in one's body. Meditate on a different quality each week, such as impermanence, reactivity, non-self, Commit to engaging in one heart practice daily: loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, or equanimity (the Four Immeasurables).  Set an intention before each interaction with others, such as kindness, empathy, or presence. Examine the priorities in one's life and then commit to following one each week.A rich Q&A dialogue follows.______________Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, and a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, loving-kindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism.He has practiced insight meditation since 1976 and received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith. He is the author of "The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World," and the co-editor of "Ken Wilber in Dialogue."Find him at https://donaldrothberg.com/  Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Part 1: GBF 2023 Fall Retreat. Our teacher for the weekend, Donald Rothberg, informs us that the purpose of Buddhist practice is to move beyond techniques and teachings, into a deep state of resting in one's own being. There we can experience insight into Impermanence, Dukkha, and Not-Self that informs our behavior in daily life.A 45-min dharma talk is followed by a 45-min Q&A and group dialogue.______________ Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, and a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, loving-kindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism.He has practiced insight meditation since 1976 and received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith. He is the author of "The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World," and the co-editor of "Ken Wilber in Dialogue." Find him at https://donaldrothberg.com/  Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

GUEST:René Rivera (he/him) is a meditation teacher and restorative justice facilitator working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer Latinx trans man. René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, as a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive people, and offers classes and retreats for many Buddhist centers and groups. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender based violence.Find René's talks and guided meditations for EBMC's Alphabet Sangha on YouTube. Here are also a few of his talks and conversations on Spotify on Gender and No Self, Attachment Trauma Repair, Bringing our Mindfulness to Powerand Bringing Compassion to Conflict.Article in Lion's Roar: Finding Nonself on My Gender Journey

Spring Washam, considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities, she is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader. She is the author of two books; A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment & The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground.   Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center in East Bay San Francisco, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teacher's council at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America.   She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. Spring is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008.   Spring's workshops, interviews, and writing can be found in mainstream media worldwide.   Visit Spring Washam's Website: www.springwasham.com Books by Spring Washam Podcast - The Spirit Underground: Conversations on Liberation Podcast Follow Spring on: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, & Youtube. __________________________________ Subscribe to Dr. Lotte's Newsletter Visit Dr. Lotte's Website Stay Connected on Social Meida, follow Dr. Lotte on Instagram & Facebook  

GUEST:René Rivera (he/him) is a meditation teacher and restorative justice facilitator working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer Latinx trans man. René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, as a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive people, and offers classes and retreats for many Buddhist centers and groups. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender based violence.Find René's talks and guided meditations for EBMC's Alphabet Sangha on YouTube. Here are also a few of his talks and conversations on Spotify on Gender and No Self, Attachment Trauma Repair, Bringing our Mindfulness to Powerand Bringing Compassion to Conflict. Article in Lion's Roar: Finding Nonself on My Gender JourneyHOSTDalila Bothwell (she/her), a Dharma practitioner in the Insight Meditation/Theravada Buddhist tradition and a graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leader Program.  She served as Deputy Director of New York Insight Meditation Center for nearly a decade where she learned the priceless value of sangha and the role relationships play in embodying the teachings and in creating kinder human beings.  With a formal education in food and nutrition, her practice meets at the intersection of physical and emotional wellbeing while being Black and queer and her love of recovery, nature, community, and justice. A native of the Southwest, Dalila currently lives in Papago / Tohono O'odham territory in Arizona with her handsome pup, Brisco.To connect with Dalila in other ways:www.dalilabothwell.comIG: @moonearthlove

This time on The Spirit Underground, Spring Washam and Lama Rod Owens begin a gentle exploration of the intersection of gender identity, sexuality and spirituality.This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenowIn this exploratory discussion, Spring Washam and Lama Rod Owens gently surface their thoughts on:The binary between sacred and secular sexualityWhy we repress sexuality as a cultureTending to the needs and suffering of the bodyMoving through the ways we've been conditioned to think about bodies, attraction, desire, sexuality, gender, etc.Discussing sexuality in spiritual leadershipHolding space for sexual energy on a community level“If we're talking about an enlightened society, that is also enlightened sexuality.” – Lama Rod Owens About Lama Rod Owens:Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself. A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. From these intersections, he creates a platform that's very natural, engaging, and inclusive.For current offerings and programs, click here. “I want us to reach a place of liberation where we love our bodies, where we are fluid, and relating to space and energy.” – Spring Washam About Spring Washam:Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade.In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide.Spring currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide: springwasham.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 32. Some of the best conversations we have are the ones that make us think. It's even better when we not only think, but feel we have learned additional strategies for healing and restoration. Today's conversation is with Rev. Liên Shutt, an insightful and engaging Buddhist leader who strives to make Zen practice accessible to all. Her new book will release on August 22nd. Entitled Home is Here: Practicing Antiracism with the Engaged Eightfold Path, it introduces readers to mindful practices for integrating the Engaged Four Noble Truths and the Engaged Eightfold Path to progress on the path towards healing. Rev. Liên teaches at the Access to Zen Meditation Group, the East Bay Meditation Center, and other Bay Area Groups. In this conversation we talk about the Engaged Four Noble Truths, The Engaged Eightfold Path, the importance of words and reframing, how Home is Here can help with the healing process, intersectionality with the BIPOC and Queer communities, and so much more. We highly recommend going out and getting a copy of Home is Here and attending the upcoming book tour to meet Rev. Liên. For previous episodes and information, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or social media links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

What does the Third Noble Truth really promise when it speaks of "an end to dukkha?" Does it mean an end to unpleasant experiences? In this rich talk, Donald Rothberg shares that the end of dukkha actually means the cessation of our REACTIVITY to unpleasant experiences. He relates the analogy of "the second arrow" to our reactivity (both clinging and aversion) rather than the typical translation of "suffering." He introduces 10 guidelines for working with reactivity: Understand the nature of reactivity and how it becomes institutionalizedAssess your level of reactivity and determine an appropriate responseBe mindful of your patterns of reactivityExplore how you react to both pleasant and unpleasantDevelop a regular heart practice, such as loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity, forgiveness, gratitude, and empathy Recognize the insight offered by our reactivity and transform it rather than strive to eliminate itLearn alternatives to reacting through mindfulnessBring conscious intention to our habitually reactive mindLook at the roots and history behind our reactive patternsLearn to develop non-reactive ways of speaking and acting ______________Donald Rothberg, Ph.D., a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Center, and a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, teaches retreats and groups on concentration and insight meditation practice, loving-kindness practice, transforming the judgmental mind, mindful communication, working skillfully with conflict, and socially engaged Buddhism. He has practiced insight meditation since 1976 and received training in Tibetan Dzogchen, body-based psychotherapy, and trauma work. He has helped guide many six-month to two-year training programs in socially engaged spirituality, both Buddhist-based and interfaith. He is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life: A Buddhist Approach to Transforming Ourselves and the World, and the co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue. Find him at donaldrothberg.com Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

In this Psychedelic Podcast episode, Paul F. Austin meets meditation teacher and healer Spring Washam at the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference to discuss Buddhism, psychedelics, and ancestral wisdom. Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-208-spring-washam Paul and Spring delve deep into the synergies and incompatibilities across healing modalities. They ask whether indoor practices can ever rival nature's transformative power. They reflect on innate desires toward rooting on land and the consequences of disconnection. They ask whether the spirit of Harriet Tubman and other ancestral heroes can heal society's conflicts. And they explore the psychedelic divide between Southern traditions and Northern adaptations. Join Paul and Spring for a fascinating perspective on mindfulness, plant medicine, and the evolution of society. Spring Washam: Considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation to diverse communities; Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teachers' council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation, and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in transformative retreats in Central America. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. Spring is also a shamanic practitioner, studying indigenous healing practices since 2008. Spring's workshops, interviews, and writing can be found in mainstream media worldwide. Highlights: How Buddhist practitioners view psychedelics. Spring's early ayahuasca journeys and revelations. Spring's lessons from Buddhist lineages. Jack Kornfield's guidance and teachings. Spring's Lotus Vine Journeys ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica. How psychedelics and Buddhism reconnect us to nature. Spring's journey from California to Georgia to start a plant-medicine community. Exploring the importance of healing human disconnection from the land. Spring's insights from her book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring's presentation at the MAPS Conference on Buddhism & ayahuasca. Reflecting on how to bridge modern spirituality with indigenous lineages. Key Links: Spring's website: https://www.springwasham.com/Spring on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/springwasham/?hl=en Lotus Vine Journeys retreat center: https://www.lotusvinejourneys.com/ Spring's new book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground: https://amzn.to/3Ktio19 These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links. Continue the conversation about this episode in Third Wave Community. Create your account for free at community.thethirdwave.co Episode Sponsors: Magi Ancestral Supplements - Visit ancestralmagi.com and use coupon code TW10. Psyched Wellness - Use code THIRDWAVEPOD to get 15% off. Apollo Neuro - Third Wave listeners get 15% off.

In Part 3, René Rivera looks at how we connect intimacy with self and others to the whole of our life. He examines how we can become more aware of, and present to, the world around us. ______________ René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

After first exploring intimacy with ourselves in Part 1, we now look at how the dharma informs all our relationships:Intimate, friends, family, colleagues, society, and even the natural and unseen world - ancestors, guides and deities. In this talk, René Rivera reminds us that we can become more grounded in our relationships using the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, which are awareness of:1. The physical body2. Feelings and sensations3. Thoughts and consciousness4. The dhammas - phenomena and the nature of existence______________ René Rivera is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man.René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender-based violence. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

In this talk, Melvin Escobar encourages us to meditate on two Koans:"What is your original face?"and"What was your original face before your parents were born?"He offers the perspective on aspects of the 3 Jewels:The Buddha - representing the Oneness of all things;The Dharma - representing the Diversity of all things;The Sangha - where Oneness and Diversity merge in harmony.He reminds us that our authentic self is shaped by all of our past experiences, including the experiences of our ancestors before we were born. ______________ Melvin Escobar is a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, a licensed psychotherapist, and a certified yoga instructor. Melvin has walked the path of service for much of his life, drawing on his experiences as a queer man of color born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Having encountered the priceless wisdom embodied in Buddhism and Yoga, he continues daily to learn the revolutionary potential of body-centered contemplative practices for personal and social healing. You can read his latest article in Lion's Roar Magazine “Loving-Kindness: May All Beings Be Happy,” and visit his website www.melvinescobar.com for more information. Support the show______________ To participate live and be notified of upcoming speakers in advance, please Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gaybuddhistfellowship) or visit https://gaybuddhist.org/calendar/ To support our efforts to share these talks with LGBTQIA audiences worldwide, please visit www.GayBuddhist.org.There you can: Donate Learn how to participate live Find our schedule of upcoming speakers Join our mailing list or discussion forum Enjoy many hundreds of these recorded talks dating back to 1996 CREDITSAudio Engineer: George HubbardProducer: Tom BrueinMusic/Logo/Artwork: Derek Lassiter

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with the division, arguments, and injustices in this country? With so much opposition, how can one person bring about significant change? Lisa continues the conversation today with author Spring Washam who discusses her latest work – an in-depth study of American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman who was born into slavery and faced extremely challenging situations of oppression and injustice. She risked her very life to perpetuate a change and save enslaved people through the Underground Railroad. Spring is also an activist, teacher, and speaker who has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices for more than a decade. She is a member of the teaching council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization which blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America. She is the author of “A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment” and her latest book is “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground.” Spring is based in Oakland, CA. She is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities including being one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. Info: SpringWasham.com

We first became familiar with meditation teacher and visionary leader Spring Washam through Dan Harris' book, 10% Happier. We then recently heard her on his Ten Happier podcast talking about her new book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground and we were blown away. Thankfully Dan connected us –and we had the honor of speaking with Spring on this week's podcast.Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based healing practices to diverse communities. She's one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in Oakland, California.She received extensive training by Jack Kornfield, is a member of the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Northern California, and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. In addition to being a teacher, she is also a Shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008 which lead her to create Lotus Vine Journeys, an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America.Spring currently travels and teaches meditation, retreats, workshops, and classes worldwide.In this week's episode we discuss Spring's life changing conversations with Harriet Tubman which dive into The Underground Railroad and how Harriet is now the conductor of a new state of consciousness in the world.Where to find Spring Washam online: https://linktr.ee/springwashamSocial Media:FacebookInstagramYouTube‍Spring's Books:The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground:A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any MomentFor more from Robyn + Karen, and to sign up for Weekly Inspo visit seekingcenter.appYou can also follow Seeking Center on Instagram at @seekingcenterrobyn

With so many overwhelming challenges facing society today, how can we begin to bring about change? How can we unite in a country filled with opposition and division? Oftentimes, great leaders and pioneers must face extremely challenging situations and oftentimes risk their very lives to perpetuate a change. One such revolutionary was American abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman, who was born into slavery. She escaped and risked her life to save nearly 70 enslaved people through the activist network known as the Underground Railroad. Our guest today, author and spiritual leader Spring Washam, dives deeply into the consciousness of Harriet Tubman and explores how we can apply her teachings to the challenges we face today, including overarching division, greed, hatred, and disillusionment. She explains how Harriet fought for true American freedom for all – she stayed focused on forward movement and held a vision of peace. Spring is a teacher, healer, activist, and visionary based in Oakland, CA. She wrote an in-depth exploration of Harriet Tubman's work in her latest book “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground.” Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities including being one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. This is Part 1 of the interview. Info: SpringWasham.com. 

In this episode of Your Story Medicine, I welcome Spring Washam. Considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities; Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America. Main Topics Discussed: Discipline and consistency as devotionIs Ayahuasca an intoxicant?: Incorporating plant medicine into Buddhist practicesBecoming a bodhisattvaHow Harriet Tubman is leading us to liberation todayLiving on a diet of dharma Learn more about Spring Washam: Visit her website: www.springwasham.com Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/springwasham If you are in the season of receiving support to water the seeds you've been planting, then I invite you to apply to Bud to Blossom which will be the only way to work with me closely this year.

When we live a mystical life anything is possible, especially being able to receive communication from spirits regardless of when they were in a living human form. In this episode of The Conscious Diva, I am talking to Spring Washam. Spring is a well-known spiritual teacher who was spontaneously contacted by Harriet Tubman to share her wisdom of living from the heart. I asked Spring who Harriet Tubman the mystic is, and why she is relevant today? This conversation with acclaimed Buddhist teacher Spring Washam was profound. I am so thankful to Spring for her beautiful new book, “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman - AWAKENING FROM THE UNDERGROUND” - which is not a scholarly work or historical account of Harriet Tubman's life, but rather a work explaining a transmission of divine wisdom as a true awakened being. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Spring shares a historical snapshot of Harriet Tubmans' incredible achievements. The Dharma of Harriet Taubman and the Underground railroad. Spring shares how Harriet is the right kind of Deity for our collective wound of racism. Harriet's message of living from our heart is shared as a practice of learning how to heal our ancestors by asking: Who am I, Who, am I really? Freedom through consciousness – freeing ourselves from our mental prison and conditioning that shapes our lives and program us to believe non-truths about ourselves. I share how I felt this book was written by both Harriet and Spring, as well as a personal experience I had from reading “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman - AWAKENING FROM THE UNDERGROUND”. Spring reads her "Prayer of Recognition and Gratitude" from her new book. For more information on this episode, you can visit the show page, episode #49 at www.theconsciousdiva.com ABOUT SPRING: Considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities; Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, healer, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, an organization that offers Buddhist teachings with attention to social action and multiculturalism. She is a member of the teacher's council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy, Insight meditation and loving-kindness practices. Spring is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom for transformative retreats in South America. https://www.springwasham.com https://www.lotusvinejourneys.com

Try this body-scan meditation to ground your mind in the present moment and in your body, guided by Spring Washam. How to do this practice: Find a comfortable seat where you can relax your body. Beginning with the top of your head, relax any sense of tension, one body part at a time. Slowly scan down to your face, neck, upper arms, hands, feeling their presence. You might want to place your hands on your belly to feel your breath and let go. End by placing your hand on your heart and offer your body some kindness. Today's Happiness Break Host: Spring Washam has been a devoted Buddhist practitioner in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism for more than 25 years. She is a founding teacher of The East Bay Meditation Center and has spent more than a decade studying Shamanic indigenous healing practices. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Learn more about Spring and her book: https://www.springwasham.com/ Follow Spring on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/springwasham/ Check out Spring's YouTube channel: https://tinyurl.com/22njyd29 More Resources from the Greater Good Science Center: Six Minutes to Connect with Your Body:  https://tinyurl.com/2337f85e How a Body Scan Can Help with Strong Emotions: https://tinyurl.com/58wfsvnd Krista Tippett on Being Grounded in Your Body: https://tinyurl.com/59pkp324 Turning Into Your Body Can Make You More Resilient: https://tinyurl.com/5av68v62 Your Anxiety Might Be Coming From Your Body: https://tinyurl.com/dwb9vvue What Self-Compassion Feels Like in Your Body: https://tinyurl.com/2p9rdepk Seven Ways to Have a Healthier Relationship with Stress: https://tinyurl.com/m6mbv2np We love hearing from you! Tell us about your experience of embodiment meditation. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share Happiness Break! Leave us a 5-star review and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap We're living through a mental health crisis. Between the stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, burnout — we all could use a break to feel better. That's where Happiness Break comes in. In each biweekly podcast episode, instructors guide you through research-backed practices and meditations that you can do in real-time. These relaxing and uplifting practices have been shown in a lab to help you cultivate calm, compassion, connection, mindfulness, and more — what the latest science says will directly support your well-being. All in less than ten minutes. A little break in your day.

So many people are interested in their family tree. What kind of lives did our ancestors lead and what do their stories say about us? Today's guest, Spring Washam, asks us to reckon with the people who have come before us in order to fully understand who we are and why we do the things we do.Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999.In this episode we talk about:How Spring came to write about Harriet Tubman's lifeHer work with plant medicine and the shamanic traditionsThe dream and the “conversations” Spring had with TubmanWhy we are all so interested in ancestryHow we can deepen our relationship with our ancestors Family Constellation Therapy as a modality for doing ancestry work Spring's own family historyWhy she is still processing the experience of writing her book about Harriet Tubman What she means by the “inner underground railroad” and how it is alive todayAnd, how, in the inner underground railroad, freedom equates to nirvana Content Warning: mentions of suicideFull Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/spring-washam-556See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

East Bay Meditation Center teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda is thinking about death. Having practiced Korean and Japanese Zen, and Vipassana, she now finds new wisdom on the end of life via the Vajrayana tradition. This piqued the interest of Lion's Roar's Rod Meade Sperry, who reached out to hear more.

Oftentimes Buddhism can take a tough love, no nonsense approach to happiness by saying, if you want to be happier, sometimes you need to face hard truths. In today's episode we're going to talk about a Buddhist list called The Three Characteristics. These are the three non-negotiable truths about reality, which you have to see and understand in order to be happy. Granted, when looked at from a certain angle, these truths, or characteristics of reality can suck at times. But do you want to see the truth of things or not? Do you want to be happier or not?Our guide through these three characteristics is the mighty Mushim Patricia Ikeda. Mushim has a background in both monastic and lay Buddhist practice and is a core teacher and community director at the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California. This is her second appearance on the show. Content Warning: This episode briefly mentions child loss.In this episode we talk about: The three characteristics, alternatively known as the three Dharma sealsOur conflicted relationship to change Our brain's tendency to focus on the negativePractices that can help with handling change more effectivelyHow not taking your thoughts so personally can build your resilienceAnd why Mushim believes that universal non-discriminating love is synonymous with NirvanaFull Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/mushim-patricia-ikeda-484See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.